Flush tank



J. S. SWEENY FLUSH TANK Filed June 21, 1927 www /gdll IAWENTORt ATTORNEY.

May l, 1928.

l N VEN TOR. vw?

- 2 Shets-Sheet .2

1 ATTORNEY.

J. S. SWEENY FLUSH TANK Filed June 21. 1927 May l, 1928.

Patented May 1, 1928.

itil/.n.sfTArEfs :PATENT ,-lorrloe. i

`JOHN S. SWEENYQOF GALVESTON, TEXAS.

`FLUSH `Application lced .Tune 21,

-f-orrthe -siphonic outlet-olf flush tanks conf -structed to utilize the pressure of. a- .trapped l volumeor". air.- as al means .for raising the ,-wjater level -to :start 'the siplion.

.A urthereobject of the,invention..is the provision fina starter or' this type ota tr-apped'body of'water, serving' initially as asealffor the trapped body ot air. yand thereafter asa-.watersupply .responsive to. the f pressure induced ron said trapped ,body of a-iinto be forced above the normal water line .inf the tank tofstart the .siphonic action.

vA further .object offthe inventionis toprovide for such a construction ,and relation of Vthe operating` parts that the necessity *for .any valve control or valve structure 4is en- -tirelyl obviated, hence no valves Y are employeddn the constructiomthere are no parts -to lealLorA get out ot order, and the lifeoit `fthe apparatus is vlimited only by the lite` of thematerial ot which it is constructed. Thefinvention is illustrated in the accoml.panyingdrawings in which: :Figure 1 is a sectionalviewpartly in :ele-

vation, ot a fluslrtank. with .the invention arranged therein. the parts being kshown ink Y normalpositions.

Figure Qis a similar view withthe plunger elevated.

Y'liigureis a sect-ion on line S-.Bof Fig'- ,ure 1.

; Figure 4 is a vsectional view, partly in ele- .vatiomI of a-flush tank showing a modified form ot Siphon starting;r means, the parts beingl shown in normal positions.

`Figure 5 is a similar "View showing :them

TANK.

y1,927. Serial. N o. 200,488. l

`and is exterior-ly threaded at 5 to receive. a clainpingnnt andto. permitthe connection with the outlet pipe offthe usual flush .pipe fleading to the bowl. The outlet pipe is secured to the .tanlrby passingthe threadf ed endthrouglr an Iopening 7v ,intheltanlg a lflangei" ybeing.belowthe lower edges ofv the tins 3, such flange 7. restingupon a.. se,a-ling gasket 8. The nut 6 is then applied to the .outlet pipe below. the. tank, and ,tight ened to secure the pipeinupright position inthe tank andseal theopening 7 againstleakage .around the pipe.

=A water reservoiris adapted to bearranged in particular .relation tok the,.o.utlet pipe.. .Thiswater. reservoirk conipris'esl an inner .pipe section {9,:liereinafter termedlthe Ystand pipe, and a spaced cylindrical welll() connected by a bottomvvalll llvwithythe lower end. of thestand rpipe andl deinilg -what may; be termed a, reservoir. spaceI 12 between-.the Wall 10` and the Standpipe. The stand pipe has, an internal diameteraccurately iitting theouter Iedges ofthe yribs 3, so that in operative position the lower edge ot the stand pipeV rests upon the shoulders 41- and is thus spaced a slight distance fr omthe bottom of vthetank 1.

The stand pipe 9 is open at the top and extendsa slight distance above the, upper open end of the *outlet pipe 2the lupper end of the reservoir rspace vbeing:r also open with the Wall 10pt aheight substantiallyequalling theI normal lineof watery level y.in vthe tankwhen `fulhindicated at 13. The.upper edge of the standpipe is inturned at`.9" to direct theinitial flow of water over. such edge and into the outlet pipe 2. y

Thepperative membenof the starter", is

`adapted for vertical movementrelative to and guided on kthe wall 10.v This (operative member, which may be hereinafter termed the plunger,,comprises an annular wall 14 ladapted to more or less loosely tit ythe VeX- terior ot thewwall; 10, the purpose being to provide an accurate .guide for the movementofthe plunger asthereisno necessity thatV these parts shall. lit sov as toA prevent he passage ofpafny water or air`r between them. The walllll of the plunger, which is of the ysame height as the.,Wall`10,is p roy yvided atits'upper end with a cover section U15 extending at right yangles tothe walllll and ysecuredat its inner'allnular edge to a .sleeve section .itV closed at 'the upper end. as

at 17, and open at the lower end, The sleeve section 16 depends below the cover section. 15 of the plunger and is of such diameter as to provide a space 16 between such sleeve 16 and the stand pipe 9, and is about one and one-halt times the area ot outlet pipe 2.

The bottom 11 of the reservoir is pro vided with a bracket 19 having upstanding ears 2O to supportthe lever i''or operating the plunger, as will later appear, this bracket having a toot 21 to rest upon the bottom of the tank 1. The stand pipe 9 is formed with `an opening 22, preferably by detlecting the upper edge of a slot in such stand pipe wall, this opening being positioned somewhat below the normaly water line 13 ot the tank. The sleeve 16 immediately below its juncture with the cover section 15 is Jformed with a comparatively small opening 23, 't'or a purpose which will later appear.

The ears 20 support an upright 2st on the Y upper end of which is pivotally supported a lever 25, the inner terminal ot which is connected to ears 26 rising trom the closed end 17 of the sleeve 16. The outer end of Vthe lever extends over the upper edge ot the tank 1 and is connected to the usual pull chain 27, or obviously may be connected to any desired type of operating means. The usual inlet valve 28 controlled by a float 29 serves to admit water into the tank from the supply pipe 30 and through the float control the water level in the tank in the usual manner.

In normal positions it will be apparent that water stands in the space 12 and between the stand pipe and outlet pipe to a height corresponding to the normal water line in the tank, such level ot course being below the upper end ot the outlet pipe 2 and the upper end ot' the stand pipe 9. As the cover section 15 ot the plunger is at or below the .water level, the space between the sleeve 16, wall 10 and cover section 15 is lilled with water.

As the pull chain is drawn upon, the

-plunger is lifted, drawing a supply ot air through the outlet pipe 2 over the upper edge of the stand pipe, downwardly through the space 18 and around the lower edgeol the sleeve 16 and into the space below the cover' section 15 between the sleevev16 and wall 14. That is to say, as the plunger rises the water beyond the sleeve 16 and below the cover section 15 drawn upwardly, withdrawing the water from the space 1.6 until the air., can pass through the space '16 Varound the lower edge Ot the sleeve and above the water below the cover section 15 and between the wall 14 and the sleeve 16.

It will, of course, be appreciated that during this operation, that is, the upward movement of the plunger, the sleeve 16 is also moving upwardly, thereby continually reducing the height oit the water' column above the lower edge of the sleeve16 between such sleeveand the stand pipe' 9. rlhis fact, together with the lowering of the and enter the space in the plunger above the body of water and between the sleeve 16 and wall 14:. Gt course, some air will enter this space through the opening 23, but the larger proportion of air necessary for the operation of the device will enter around the lower edge oi the sleeve 16.

As soon as air enters this space, the water again seeks its level, sealing the lower end Ot sleeve 16, providing an air lille-d. space 31 above the water below the cover section 15. 0n release oit the pull on the chain 27, the plunger starts to move downwardly and the weight of the plunger must be sutlicient toy force the water up through the space 18 to lill outlet pipe 2. It' desired and as preferred, this movement ot the plunger mayV be', .rendered more positive and certain through the use of a weight 32 in the torni of an annular member fitted over the upper projecting end of the sleeve 16 and resting on the cover section 15. 1n the downward nioj-Jement et the plunger the air trapped in the chamber 31 exerts a downward pressure upon the water in the reservoir 12, forcing the same upwardly in the space 18 and over the top of the stand pipe 9 and through the outlet pipe 2, starting the siphonic action, the flow of water being continued of course as the lower end of the stand pipe is open to the water in the tank. The flush continues until the level of the water in the tank reaches the lowerend of the stand pipe.

lfollowing the initial displacement of the water from the reservoir 12 to start the siphonic action as described, there will ot course be no 'further water withdrawn troni the reservoir as in the siphonic action the water is drawn 'from the tank upwardly between the outlet pipe 2 and the stand pipe 9. During this siphonic action there is a tendency o1 course to draw the air within the plunger' out. with the outgoing` water and this action tends to draw the air from the chamber 31 through the opening rthis material reduction in Vair pressure in this chamber tends to the creation ot' apartal vacuum with the eliect of peri'nitting a part of the water rising between the outlet` pipe 2 and the stand pipe 9 to tlow through the opening 22 in the stand pipe and retill the reservoir 12. `'.llhe parts are thus j arranged for succeeding operation. 1

The essential characteristic of the construction is the 'tact that when the plunger is down or in normal position there is no air on the surface of thewater in the reservoir` below the coverl 15 and between the walls 14 and sleeve 16, and that no space is provided for air accumulation until the klevel in this space 18, permits air to readily pass around the lower `edge ot the sleeve 16y Utl f igea-1,450

1 plungerigtarts toV 'move upwardly. "Thusthe 1 device :in providing 1 for `the start off* the .siphonic .action takes advantage of WellV *known* natural laws.

t VIt isof course apparentltliatfthe-pressure .of 'thetrapped air inthe v`.chamber 31 4will 5f-necessity start the -si'phonic action rather 'than v"find its -fWay downward Abetween the Walls l andV liaifior ,the distance Which this lpair hasto `force the Water up'over the edge' Y otthestand pipe is materially-less thanthe distance through Which the air must A'force itself through a body of water betweenfthe Walls l0 andv 1,4, and hence the amount of N1 pressure thatnvould be required .to force air .out into the Water xat,the".bottom end 'of this openi1ig, as itxwould require 'about 6-/29 `of a poundpressure to-theAsquaie-iiich vto force (the air .outL this .Y Way, `,Whereas itv ronly ref" quires`,2/29 of a pound to the square Ainchv toforcethe Waterl oveithe top y"ofthe stand pipe lHence Whatever `vvatermay be accumulated ,between the iv'alls l() and Hand .thep pressure ,of Water standing in the tank 2fiact's asan effective seal against the yescape of air 4 in`this direction.

The reservoir `.is sure to re'iilly duringithe operation' of discharging'b'ut'shouldthe lever be pulled Whilethe'tank is empty and there- :miby discharging .the water in the reservoir, fthe, reservoir'will reiill ina short interval, .filsgthe Water in the tank, afterit is'full,-will vfindjits Way up the stand pipe' 9, outfthrough 1the ropening 22 and into'the reservoir, gradul M allydisplacingthe air therein through the Qpenin'gf23, until' the reservoir is again filled `and the parts ready for operation.

i Iti is fto be (particularly, noted Athat 4the construction isfen'tirely andfwholly free ofj any .,Valves. 'lhev` plunger is the only movable part, and this does not require any especial ,'.iione-leakingit With any otherpart. "There are no movableparts touget out of order. 'The construction takes Aadvantage of kthe Y Chamber in vvhich through -"the operation .fthereisaftendency Yto reduce'the pressure to less ft-han .,atmosp-heric,'A and the further Y natural/tendency of` air `under pressure, Ogreater `than atiiuospheric` to displace a l.columnorbody of wateren which it acts.

VOf .coursethe .weiglitlr32 is tofbe deter- ,.mined .to -insure aSllfCient air. pressure to raise the eoliunntof Water to. the nheightv TnecQSsary `to,support the siphonic action.`

`1Whatever air may laccumulate vWithin the sleeve lrabove vthe upperend Of the stand i. pipeactsmerelyf indeed it has any effect,

tov assist in ltlieloW of Water. -When once @0, started.

"Theiinaterial ofthe various parts Will of course"beconstructed Witli a View to prey vvent :their "deterioration inthe `contemplated use. l/Vh'ilemetahsuchforexample as alum'inuin, has proven satisfactory, the entire .natural tendency of `air tobe drawn into ay absencer loi?wv movablerparts would :permit fthe construction :to :be (5f-'glass'. lLAny:.fand-:fall

serviceable materials may i be used.

Should :the ball 'cock'i fail to close sand lthe "Watercontiniueltolliiow? intothe tank, 'they tank Kwill'inot overowyas 'the :Waterviwill "liidits 'Way vout fthrougli the flushingA chan-k ;nels and -flow out the- "lied form ofistarter in which-'the sleeveele- "Figures 4,5 andi 6 shoWra slightlywmodi-v,

'ment r16, or Athe equivalent-whereof, which carried byand 'movablei With theplungerg is lheld in more or less fixed yrelation fwith Ithe stand pipe and isnot operated yin themoveiuent'of the starter.

"gInithis form of theconstructionit'wvill i ybe Vnoted "that the parts including the tank,

the loutletpipe, the-connectionof the'out-"f .let f pipe -to` the tank, the waterreservoir :and Vstand pipe section :aresubstantiallyidentical with that `shown in the constructienilvlustrated vin"'B-`igures 1,#2 and 3- andwsuch parts Will be indicatedin'fFigures 4,'5and' f bythe samefnumeralsfbywhieh 'theyare indicated in Figures 11,' 21a11d 3.

' Inthe -modified yconstruction Eshown'in Figures' 4, 5and-6,!a1sleevemember 33 is substantially similar fin 'shapeitofthesleeve forni. ffl-he standpipe9 isy providedwith ,a stop STWhich' forms a *limitv for thel down- Ward movement of the collar35 ltoso posi- Ytion *the sleeve k33 that its -upper closedgend 'Qtpisspacedtslightly 'from A'thefupper-end of the stand pipe Y Theplunger proper ofthe modified -orm includes an `annular"Wall"538wvhichy has a guiding lit with the Wall jl() of the-Water reservoir, anupper -ri'ght angledy cover sec-' tion 39 which overliesthefwater reservoir, and an ,upstanding lcylindrical sectionY 40 as is the, sleeve member 13601c the pii'eferred which eii'circles and `issliglitly spacedfrom the exterio'rsurface foi' the vsleeve 33.r {The Y cylindrical section '-40 V'of the plunger is closed/ at the top, asatlil, and this vtrop 4l is provided With the years 42 `for thelever connections; being in ,this vrespect l.identical with theform shown infFigures l, 2 and 3.

The stand pipe'9'of the modifiedl vform is f'ornied with an o eninfr 43 arranwed at the b. C. normal water hne and similar 111 d1spos1t1on and function to the opening 22 of the pre` the preferred form. ln this connection it is the plunger.

plunger,

to be noted that the opening 44 in the sleeve 33 is vat the water line when the tanlr is illed to its normal level and hence this opening 44 is partially sealed by the water.

With the parts in normal positions and the tanl iilled with water to the normal water line, it is noted that there is water to the top of thereservoir 12; that is, there is no air space between the top of the water in the reservoir and the cover section 39 otx As the top 41 oit the plunger rests upon the top 34 o1' the sleeve 33, there is also a comparatively small air' space between the exterior of the sleeve 33 and the cylindrical upstanding portion 40 of the plunger.

v As the pull chain is drawn upon the plunger is elevated. This draws the Yair through the outlet pipe, around beneath the lower edge ot the sleeve 33 and into theV space now provided between the `cover' section 39 of the plunger and that between the top 34 `et the sleeve 33 and the top 41 of the circular portion of the plunger. The plunger is provided with a weight sufficient to operate the plunger, such weight being preferably in the form et a sleeve encircling the extension of upon the cover section 39 as shown.

With the plunger raised, there is a considerable body of air trapped above the suritace of the water between such water surface and the plunger closing,r section 39 and between the tops 34 and 41 of the sleeve and respectively. As the plunger dcseends this body ot water is put under pressure commensurate with the weight used and the pressure acts upon the surface of the water to force the water upwardly between the sleeve 33a11d the stand pipe 9V and over the upper edge of the latter into the outlet pipe, filling` the latter for the starting of the siphonic action. As the plunger descends the air is permitted to escape through the opening 44, being drawn out therethrough by the siphonic action o'li the water. This tends to create a partial. vacuum or at least a reduction oi pressure within the reservoir above the then lowered water level, which reduction in pressure draws into the unfilled space in the reservoir a sulicient quantity of water to fill such space during the siphonic flow described, this refill taking place through the opening 43.

It is to be expressly understood that while the opening` 43 in the stand pipe is serviceable for reiilling the reservoir, it is not absolutely essential for, aspreviously,T stated,

the i plunger and resting the fit between the reservoir and plunger is not of a character to exclude the passage Vof water therebetween and it is at `once apparent that under the pull of the reservoir incident to the lowered yair pressure described, the water for the refill of the reservoir will 11nd its way between the reservoir and plunger and over the upper'edge ofthe reservoir in sufficient quantity for the.v relilling operation. Therefore, the openings 22 in the preferred 'form and 43 in the modied forni are in nowise essential to Ya proper operation of the construction. c

lt will be understood that if desired the level. o1 the cover section, 15 in the preferred lorln and in the modified for1n,`1nay be arranged somewhat below the normallevel of the water in thetanlr. Then the partial vacuuniforined in the upper portion of the reservoir during` the siphonie action would result in a certain and sure refilling of the reservoir even without the use of the stand pipe opening (22 or 43), and even if the starter was operated while the tankY was empty or partially filled. Of course the it ot the cover section (15 and 39) of the plunger on the upper edge ofthe reservoir wall must be such as to allow water to enter the reservoir when the plunger is down.

What l claim to be new isz y .1. A flush tank adapted for siphonic discharge, including` an outlet pipe, a water reservoir encircling the pipe, and manually operative means for producing a column of air above the water in the reservoir and eX- erting; a pressure upon said column of air to utilize the water in the reservoir Vas a means ttor starting the siphonic action through the outlet pipe, the siphonic flow oi' water fronrthe tank to the outlet pipe continuingwithout withdrawing the water in the reservoir.

2. In a flush tank, a reservoir surrounding theoutlet pipe and sealed thereagainst except at the extreme upper end, and a plunger operative relative to the reservoir to initially trap a body of air above the water in the reservoir in the initial movement'of the plunger and utilize this body oli air as a pressure medium' to displace the water of the reservoir to start the siphonic actionthrough the outlet pipe, the siphonic flow ot water 'from the tank to the outlet pipe continuing without withdrawing the water in the reservoir.

3. In a flush tank, an out'let pipe, a reser 'voir having an inner wall surrounding and spaced from; the outlet pipe, the space between said inner wall and out-let pipe being open to the tank at the bottom, and means operative with respect to the reservoir to initially provide a Vtrapped body of air overlying the water in the reservoir andthereafter exert suiiicient pressure on said body of air to` raisethe water in the an outlet pipe therefor, v

Miu

above the top of the outlet pipe to start the siphonlc action, the flow of water from the flush tank to the outlet pipe under the siphonic action being directly between the outlet pipe and the inner wall of the reservoir to deplete the tank without withdrawing the water in lthe reservoir.

4L. In a, flush tank, an outlet p-ipe, a reservoir surrounding the same, the inner wall of the reservoir forming a stand pipe eX- tended above the outlet pipe, and a plunger having a sleeve extending into the reservoir between the walls thereof and a top sealing the space in the reservoir between such sleeve and outer wall of the reservoir.

5. In a Hush tank having an outletpipe, a stand pipe surrounding and spaced from lthe outlet pipe, the bottom of the stand pipe v being open to the water in the tank, a reser- Voir surrounding the stand pipe, said. reservoir being closed at the bottom and terminating at the upper end substantially at the normal water line of the tank, and a plunger slidably encircling the reservoir and having a sleeve section depending into the. reservoir inwardly of t-he outer wall'thereof.

6. In a flush tank having an outlet pipe, a stand pipe surrounding'and spaced from the outlet pipe, the bottom of the stand pipe being open to the water in the tank, a reservoir surrounding the stand pipe, said reservoir being closed at the bottom and terminating at the upper end substantially at the normal water line of the tank, a plunger slidably encircling the reservoir and having a sleeve section depending into the reservo-ir inwardly of the outer wally thereof, said plunger including 'an upper portion forming an extension of the sleeve and closed beyond the upper end of the stand pipe.

7. In a flush tank having an outlet pipe, a stand pipe surrounding and spaced from the outlet pipe, the bottom of the stand pipe being open to the water in the tank, a` reser- Voir surrounding the stand pipe, said reservoir being closed at the bottom and terminating at the upper end substantially at the normal water line of the tank, and a plunger slidably encircling the reservoir and having a sleeve section depending into the reservoir inwardly of the outer wall thereof, the stand pipe being formed with an opening below the upper end of the reservoir.

8. In a flush tank having an outlet pipe,

a stand pipe surrounding and spaced from slidably encircling the reservoir and having Y a sleeve section depending into the reservoir inwardly of the outer wall thereof, lthe sleeve being formed with an opening in line with the top edge of the reservoir.

9. Ina flush tank, an outlet pipe, means for confining a body of water surrounding the outlet pipe, the surface of said body of waterbeing below the .up-per edge of the outlet pipe and having an unrestricted path of communication with said outlet pipe, and means whereby a trapped body of air is initially positioned above said confined body of Water and thereafter utilized to exert pressure upon said coniined body ofwater to force' a portion of the same along said unrestricted path t fill the outlet pipe to starty siphonic action. A

10. In a flush tank, an outlet pipe, means for confining a body of water surrounding the outlet pipe, the surface of said body of water being below the upper edge of the outlet pipe and having an unrestricted path l ofcommunication with said outlet pipe, and means whereby a trapped body of air is initially positioned above said confined body of water and thereafter utilized to y exert pressure upon said confinedl body of water to force a port-ion of the same along said unrestricted path to'll the outlet pipe to start 's iphonic action, said trapped body of air being withdrawn during the siphonic movement of the water to provide for re-A plenishing said confined body of water.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

JOHN s. swEENY. 

